The Guwahati Police on Thursday seized an arms consignment bound for Garo militant outfit, Garo National liberation Army, based in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills region.
Police have also arrested three persons including two GNlA linkmen regarding the consignment, officials said, adding that the consignment was seized from the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) in Guwahati. Police said that the seized arms and ammunition included one AK-56 rifle, one magazine, one short-barreled factory-made gun, one RPG launcher, seven RPG Cells, 375 rounds of ammunition, four mobile handsets and Rs 50,000 cash.
“The consignment was booked from Dimapur through a courier agency. Our officials seized it after its delivery at ISBT Guwahati. The consignment was supposed to be sent further to Garo Hills in Meghalaya through night service bus from ISBT,” Assam Police Inspector General of Police (IGP-Central Western Range) lR Bishnoi said.
He said that it was the second incident this year where the city police succeeded against the GNlA militants. Bishnoi said that two persons identified as J Marak and Orbit Sangma, both linkmen of the GNlA, were arrested in connection with the consignment. Another person — Jahid Hussain was also arrested.
“Hussain used to handle the consignments for the GNlA in Assam for payments. He is not a member of any militant outfit but he gets Rs 50,000 for handling each such consignment,” the IGP said. Bishnoi further said that the Assam Police have seized five consignment of the GNlA since last year and a total of 22 persons including GNlA cadre, linkmen and arms smuggler have so far been arrested since March 2012.